One of the downsides of IKEA products is that, unless you want to spend more on IKEA‘s furniture building service, you must assemble it yourself. While many find the directions easy to read and follow, others find the minimal directions frustrating. The cushions come vacuum sealed and require two to three days to inflate fully before they can be used and the sofa cover must be ironed which is no small task.

Sofas are meant for sitting, not sleeping. Although it's tempting to sleep—and sometimes you can't help dozing off—your sofa was not designed for it. Eventually, the frame and the cushion will sag and deteriorate because of the prolonged use. So while a nap now and then is fine, if you´re settling in for a full 8 hours do yourself a favor and make the trip to the bedroom.

That’s when reviews come in handy. Let previous buyers be your guide: did they find it too soft, too hard, or too flimsy? Pay attention to their critiques. But also pay attention to how the store responds. Flukes do happen, especially with online sales — sometimes couches come off the assembly line with a flawed coil spring or too much stuffing. Companies that respond admirably (say, by replacing the customer’s couch) are likely still worthy of your time.